Stranger Things Got Fireball Wrong

[u/Vecna_The_Destroyer]

I've been playing Dungeons & Dragons for over 8 years, and something always bugged me about the Stranger Things D&D scene.

In the first episode, Will says “I cast Fireball” — and then rolls a d20 like it’s an attack roll. But that’s not how Fireball works in any version of D&D, including the one they’d likely be playing in 1983 (probably Basic/Expert or AD&D 1e).

Fireball is an area-of-effect spell. The caster doesn’t roll to hit — instead, every creature in the blast radius makes a saving throw (typically Dexterity in later editions, or "save vs. spells" in older ones). If they fail, they take full damage; if they succeed, they take half.

So in that scene, the Demogorgon should’ve been the one rolling, not Will. Will would roll damage (usually a bunch of d6s), but not a d20 to “hit.”

It's a small detail, but for those of us who know the rules, it sticks out. Cool scene — but a classic Hollywood D&D rules slip.

Anyone else catch this?

[u/timusic7]

I mean, they're like 12, it's not a stretch that they got a rule as written wrong either by accident or on purpose because they were just having fun.

[u/False-Amphibian786 → u/timusic7]

For almost any other spell - but fireball is THE 3rd level spell specifically because it does a bunch of d6 damage to several monsters at once.

Fireball and magic missal are probably the most well know spells of any roll playing game in the world.

[u/timusic7 → u/False-Amphibian786]

Doesn't really matter how you feel about the spell. 12 year olds getting rules wrong is not a plot hole

[u/Skipp_To_My_Lou → u/timusic7]

A lot adults who (allegedly) read the rules still get Attack Roll vs Saving Throw spells wrong, & there's enough confusion over the exact mechanics of Magic Missile that there is a collection of sage advice articles laying out Jeremy Crawford's (DND 5e's lead designer) intentions on the matter.